Email Update - December 24, 2008

Yeserday was quite an experience. We got some directions to Marko (like Costco). Driving on the freeway taxed by ability and to make things more interesting we missed the turnoff so we came back on the back streets. Then when we got into the store it was packed. The most interesting experience was when we went to another mall. We parked in the underground parking terrace and went shopping at pick and pay (the major grocery chain in the area). When we tried to return to the car we could not find it! The parking area could probably hold at least 2,500 cars. To say the least we paniced a bit and agreed that we were prime candidates for a mugging. It took us at least a half hour to find the car (we basically had to re-trace our steps in an unfamiliar environment). It was not time for "senior moments".


Your mother did have her first missionary experience. When we were waiting to check out at the electronics area the gal that checked us out saw our name tags (lots of people look at them), she asked if she could come to our church. She also asked if she could get a bible from us. Like any good missionary, Judy took her name and address and indicated that someone would bring her a copy. Perhaps the most intersting time was the first time we shopped for groceries at the Pick and Pay in the mall across the street from our apartment complex. We had a difficult time getting anything that we thought was similar to what we have in the US. It was also the first time we had used our debit card for any purchase. Yes, it was another stressful moment. We finished checking out and the black lady who ran the check stand indicated that she used to teach seminary in Mosambique. Some may call that a coincidence but I have another word for it. We try to get her every time we go to that store. We even had a little gal catch us and indicate that she "she used to go to our church".



It looks like we will spend a large share of our time at the computer (reviewing projects, answering e-mail, filing reports, etc). I am gaining new computer skills. I thought I knew quite a bit about excel but Elder Dow (who we replaced) was a real guru. I am very impressed with the data base he set up in Excel to allow us to track projects. He also had a bunch of little "tricks" built into his desktop that are "cool". One of the enjoyable parts is that we get to review all of the projects being done in SE Africa. It varies from wheelchairs (I got final approval for one that will send 480 to the Sudan that a country director had submitted) to water projects (e.g., a water tank for an orphanage), to measles shots, to..... I am sure we have only seen a small tip of the iceburg. I can't remember the numbers but it seems like the church had spent something like $10 million during the first six months of 2008. Most of this is matched (or more) by contibutions by other groups. One of the things that we are to emphasize is helping other organizations be more effective. We can do that because the country directors are commonly people with lots of leadership expeience. As a result, the influence of the church is greater than the dollars spent.


(Later) We just got back from a delightful social with the other couples that stayed in Johannesberg for Christmas. Most of the couples have gone to places like Kruger National Park in Kenya or the beaches in south Africa. There were about a dozen couples that were hosted by the Packers from Honeyville. We had one couple from SLC that arrived last night. They were pretty blurry eyed.


Pictures from our apartment building: